Quick answer
Casablanca Mohammed V airport (CMN) is about 30 km south of the city. You can take the Al Bidaoui airport train (50 to 70 MAD per person, around 30 to 40 minutes to Casa Voyageurs, roughly 06:50 to 22:50), a white grand taxi (around 250 to 400 MAD per car depending on the time), or a pre-booked private transfer with a name-sign welcome, which costs 400 MAD per vehicle with Alfa Evasions.
- Airport code
- CMN
- Distance to centre
- about 30 km
- Airport train
- 50 MAD (2nd) / 70 MAD (1st)
- Grand taxi
- approx. 250 to 400 MAD per car
- Alfa private transfer
- 400 MAD, 1 to 7 passengers
- Departures
- arrive 3 h before international flights
For many travellers, Casablanca Mohammed V airport is the first taste of Morocco. CMN is the country's main international gateway, and it sits about 30 km south of the city near Nouaceur, which means you need a plan for the last leg. Passport control, getting cash, sorting a SIM card and choosing between the train, a taxi or a driver can feel like a lot after a long flight. This guide walks you through it in the order it actually happens, with honest comparisons and realistic numbers.
We are Alfa Evasions, a private tourist transport company based in Quartier Florida, Sidi Maarouf, a few minutes from the airport. We drive this route every day and every night, so this is the advice we would give a friend flying in.
What happens when you land at Casablanca airport?
The process is standard, but knowing the sequence makes it calmer. Allow anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour between touchdown and walking out of the terminal, depending on how many flights land at the same time.
Passport control
Follow the Arrivals signs to the border police desks. Have your passport ready, along with the address of your first night's accommodation, as you may be asked for it. Entry rules, including whether you need a visa and how long you can stay, depend on your nationality, so check them with your government's travel advice or a Moroccan consulate before you fly.
Baggage reclaim
Screens show the belt for your flight, and trolleys are available in the hall. If a bag fails to appear, go to your airline's baggage desk before leaving the secure area, with your boarding pass and bag tag.
Customs
Most visitors walk straight through with nothing to declare. Two money rules are worth knowing. The Moroccan dirham is a closed currency, and you can bring in or take out no more than 2,000 MAD per person. Foreign currency can come in without limit, but amounts equivalent to 100,000 MAD or more must be declared.
Cash and currency exchange
Because you cannot easily buy dirhams at home, the airport is usually where you get your first cash. You will find exchange offices and ATMs in the arrivals hall. Our tip: take out or change just enough for the first day (transport, tips, a meal), then compare rates in town. Ask for small notes, as they make taxis, cafés and tipping much easier.
SIM card or eSIM
Three networks sell prepaid SIMs to visitors: Maroc Telecom, Orange Maroc and Inwi. You need your passport to buy one and an unlocked phone. Airport prices are a little higher than in town, but you are connected straight away. As a rough guide, some operators sell around 20 GB of data for about 100 MAD (check current offers on the spot). Alternatively, install an eSIM before you travel so you have data the moment you land.
How do you get from Casablanca airport to the city centre?
There are four main options. None is best for everyone: it depends on the time you land, how much luggage you have, how many of you there are and where you are staying.
The Al Bidaoui airport train
The station is in the basement of Terminal 1, with direct access from the concourse. Trains run without a change to stops including Bouskoura, L'Oasis, Casa Voyageurs and Casa Port. According to the airport, departures run from 06:50 to 22:50, generally about once an hour (check the current frequency), and the ride to Casa Voyageurs takes around 30 minutes (a little longer to Casa Port). Tickets cost 50 MAD in second class and 70 MAD in first. For a solo traveller with light luggage, it is the cheapest way in. Timetables change, so check the ONCF website before you fly.
The catch: the train drops you at a station, not your door. You will usually need a red petit taxi for the final stretch, with your bags, and there are no trains after the last evening departure.
White grand taxis
They wait at the official rank outside arrivals. You agree the fare before you set off, and it is for the whole car, not per person. Traveller reports put daytime fares to central Casablanca at roughly 250 to 300 MAD, and more in the evening (often 300 to 400 MAD). These figures move, so always confirm the total with the driver before loading your bags, and mention how many passengers you are. Comfort and boot space vary a lot from car to car.
Ride-hailing apps
Some ride-hailing apps operate in Casablanca, but availability at the airport is patchy and pickups near the taxi rank can be awkward. If you try one, check that a car is actually showing in the app, confirm the plate and price, and carry some dirhams in cash. It is a useful backup rather than a plan A for a late arrival.
Private airport transfer
You book ahead, your driver meets you with a name sign and takes you straight to your address. With Alfa Evasions the price is fixed and agreed in advance: 400 MAD (about 38 EUR) per vehicle from the airport to central Casablanca, and the same to Casablanca Suites & Spa in Sidi Maarouf, for 1 to 7 passengers. You can book your Casablanca airport transfer in a few minutes.
Casablanca airport train vs taxi vs private transfer
| Option | Typical price | Time to centre | Comfort | Luggage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al Bidaoui train | 50 to 70 MAD per person | about 30 to 40 min, plus a taxi from the station | Fine, fixed timetable | You carry it, plus a change of transport |
| Grand taxi | approx. 250 to 400 MAD per car (agree first) | 30 to 45 min depending on traffic | Varies | Depends on the boot |
| Ride-hailing app | Varies | 30 to 45 min | Varies, availability uncertain | Depends on the car |
| Alfa private transfer | 400 MAD per vehicle, 1 to 7 people | 30 to 45 min, door to door | Air-conditioned van, Wi-Fi, water | Large boot, driver helps |
The short version: travelling alone with a small bag in the daytime, the train wins on price. Once you are two or three people with suitcases, children or a late flight, a private transfer often costs little more than a taxi, with the price settled before you land.
How far is Casablanca airport from the city, Rabat and Marrakech?
These are approximate road distances and driving times in normal traffic. Prices are from our 2025 rate card, per vehicle.
| Destination | Approx. distance | Driving time | Alfa price (per vehicle) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casablanca city centre | about 30 km | 30 to 45 min | 400 MAD (about 38 EUR) |
| Sidi Maarouf (Casablanca Suites & Spa) | about 15 to 20 km | 15 to 25 min | 400 MAD (about 38 EUR) |
| Rabat | about 116 to 130 km | around 1 h 30 | 900 MAD from Casablanca (about 86 EUR) |
| El Jadida | about 100 to 115 km | around 1 h 15 to 1 h 30 | 900 MAD from Casablanca (about 86 EUR) |
| Marrakech | about 215 km | around 2 h 15 to 2 h 30 | 1,800 MAD from Casablanca (about 172 EUR) |
Plenty of travellers head straight from the airport to Rabat, El Jadida or Marrakech without stopping in Casablanca. Just tell us the pickup is at the airport when you book and we will confirm the trip. If you are heading south, our Casablanca to Marrakech travel guide covers the route and what to do when you arrive.
Tips for late-night arrivals, families and groups
Landing late at night
Once the last train has gone, your choices are taxis or a pre-booked transfer. Night fares are higher, and negotiating after a long flight is no fun. Book your ride before you travel, keep your hotel address saved on your phone in French or Arabic, and let the hotel know your arrival time. Our drivers work 24/7; how the pickup time is adjusted if your flight is delayed is confirmed when you book.
Travelling with children
With kids, the goal is fewer queues and no changes of transport. A van has room for buggies and suitcases. If you need a child seat, mention it when booking so we can check availability. The welcome basket with water and a few treats is usually a hit after a long journey.
Groups of four to seven
A single grand taxi cannot always fit everyone plus luggage, which can mean paying for two cars. In a Hyundai Staria or Renault Trafic van the whole group travels together and the price stays the same whether you are three or seven. Split per person, it is often the most economical choice.
What to do on your first day in Casablanca
After a flight, keep the first day light. A few realistic ideas:
- Hassan II Mosque: partly built over the Atlantic, it can be visited on guided tours at set times (check on the day, as slots vary by day and during Ramadan).
- Ain Diab Corniche: an oceanfront walk that is lovely in the late afternoon, lined with cafés and restaurants.
- The Habous quarter: a calmer, tidier alternative to the old medina, with shops, bookstores and traditional pastry makers.
- Downtown Art Deco: around Boulevard Mohammed V and Place Mohammed V, for early 20th-century architecture.
For a fuller plan, see our guide to things to do in Casablanca. If you would rather string several sights together without hailing taxis, hiring a driver for half a day (1,000 MAD, 125 km included) or a full day (1,800 MAD, 200 km included) keeps things easy.
How does the Alfa Evasions meet and greet work?
Our airport meet and greet is designed so you have nothing to organise when you land:
- Book and send your flight number, along with the number of passengers and bags and your destination address.
- We plan the pickup around your flight number. Flight monitoring for early or late landings is available on request, to be confirmed when you book.
- Your driver waits in the arrivals hall with a sign showing your name, once you have collected your bags and cleared customs.
- They help with your luggage to the vehicle, a premium Hyundai Staria or a Renault Trafic, with free on-board Wi-Fi and a welcome basket of water and treats.
- You are dropped at your door at the price agreed when you booked.
The same service applies to guests of Casablanca Suites & Spa, our partner hotel: you can book the airport to hotel transfer, then head into the city centre later for 120 MAD (about 11 EUR).
How early should you arrive at Casablanca airport for departure?
The airport recommends arriving at least 3 hours before short and medium-haul international flights, and 4 hours at busy times. For long-haul flights allow 4 hours, or 5 in peak season. Domestic flights need 2 hours. Check-in desks close 60 minutes before departure and boarding gates 15 minutes before.
A few habits that help:
- Check your terminal: the airport has two terminals and airline allocations can change. Confirm with your airline; a sign at each terminal entrance lists the airlines operating there.
- Allow for the drive: 30 to 45 minutes from the city centre, more at rush hour. From Rabat or Marrakech, build in extra margin.
- Spend or exchange your last dirhams before passport control, since you can only take a limited amount out.
- Expect more than one security check, including one at the terminal entrance, and follow the cabin liquids rule (100 ml maximum per container).
A driver can collect you at whatever time suits your flight, even very early in the morning, so leaving is as calm as arriving.
How Alfa Evasions can help
We are based in Sidi Maarouf, close to the airport, and run transfers around the clock with licensed tourist transport drivers. Prices are per vehicle for 1 to 7 passengers: 400 MAD between the airport and central Casablanca or Casablanca Suites & Spa, and from Casablanca 900 MAD to Rabat or El Jadida and 1,800 MAD to Marrakech. If you have an extra day, our Rabat day trip from Casablanca guide is a good place to start.
For questions, a quote or a booking, message us on WhatsApp at +212 641 99 11 13 or call +212 522 97 20 52. Just send your flight number and we will take care of the rest.
